Booster uptake lowest in West Dublin and highest in west Cork, CSO finds

Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart in west Dublin has the lowest Covid-19 booster vaccination rate amongst all of the local electoral areas, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Meanwhile, Bantry in west Cork has the highest booster vaccine uptake rate.

The CSO’s figures, which are based on the fully vaccinated population, show the Covid-19 booster vaccination rate ranges from 52 to 75 per cent across the 166 electoral areas.

Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart has the lowest booster vaccination rate at 52 per cent, followed by Tallaght South (55 per cent), North Inner City (56 per cent), Ongar (57 per cent) and Ballymun-Finglas (58 per cent).

Bantry has the highest booster rate at 75 per cent, followed by Blackrock in Co Dublin (74 per cent), Belmullet in Co Mayo (74 per cent), Rathfarnham-Templeogue and Stillorgan in Dublin (both 73 per cent).

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In 90 per cent of local electoral areas, the vaccination uptake rate among the over 12s is greater than 83.9 per cent of the population.

The uptake rate of 5 to 11-year-olds is less than 23.4 per cent of the population in the majority of local electoral areas.

Employment status

The CSO’s report also includes analysis using data from Revenue to provide insight on employment status of records of vaccination from the HSE Vaccine Information System.

This found that the lowest Covid-19 booster vaccine uptake rate is in male employees aged 18-24 years old at 45 per cent.

Those working in Human Health & Social Work activities had the highest levels of booster vaccination rates at 82 per cent, while those employed in Accommodation & Food Service activities had the lowest rate at 56 per cent.

Among employees, the lowest booster vaccine uptake rate across all age groups is in the EU 14-27 nationality grouping. Booster vaccine uptake is highest in the 65 years and over age group at 94 per cent.

The CSO’s latest vaccination bulletin is based on vaccinations and boosters administered up to March 4th, 2022.

Professor of comparative immunology at Trinity College Dublin Cliona O’Farrell urged people not to be complacent about presenting for their second booster jab if they are eligible to receive it.

In an interview on Today with Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1, Professor O’Farrell said we shouldn’t fall in to the trap of equating Covid with the flu virus just because so many cases are mild.

“There is evidence that those of us who are a little bit older that our antibody responses wane to this particular virus. The advice is to get the booster and I would certainly take that advice.”

She said that long Covid is “a big worry for the health service. While the vast majority of people clear the virus without any subsequent effects there is a significant proportion of people who are having a whole range of different after infection effects. Post viral syndrome. The after effects of viral infection is hugely diverse and we really do not understand it. It has nothing to do with the severity of the infection.”